Illuminating device



Aug. 6, 1935. R. F. HOWE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 9, 1951 .IIEZII 0 .....E...... IrIEZII 7 a ..2

11 a L. W #0 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This, invention relates to illuminating devices,

and with particularity to high powered lamps suitable foruse in studio, stage or auditorium lighting. I I t The invention is in the nature of an improvementon my Patent No. 1,936,762, issued November 28, 1933. I,

- An, object of the invention is to improve and enhance the useful life of high powered incanr descentlamps of the so-called concentrated filament type. r

, A feature of the invention relates to a high powered lamp wherein means are provided for preventing the sagging of the incandescent member with relation to its supports.-

Another feature of the invention relates to a combined lamp andrefiector together with means for preventing sagging of the lamp as a unit with. relation to the axis of the reflector. This feature is of pronounced importance in connection with high powered incandescent lamps which have a relatively long and heavy filament which of itself tends to overbalance the lamp when the same is used in a non-vertical position.

Another feature of the invention relates to the .means for adjusting a lamp and the support therefor relatively to the focus of an associated reflector.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detail descriptions and the appended claims. e I

While the inventionwill be disclosed herein- .after as embodied in one particular structure of high powered incandescent lamps, it will be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and that the drawing is used merely for illustrative purposes to show one particular manner of carrying out the invention. 7

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a view of a coiled or concentrated filament such as used inhigh powered lamps having supports according to theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; .Fig. 3 illustrates mechanism for supporting a lamp against undue tilting, in conjunction with a known type of reflector.

R'eferring more particularly to 'Fi'gs. 1 and 2,

I there is shown a filament structure and support of the type describedin detail in application Serial No. 362,977, to which reference may be had for the details of the same. 'In general the lamp consists of an evacuated bulb" or envelope (not shown) having a base portion which supports a metallic frame consisting of two side frames, each side frame comprising a pair of metallic rods l, 2, which cross each other at their lower ends as indicated by the numeral 3 in the drawing,

this crossing being preferably welded. The side frame members I and 2 are slightly bowed outwardly from each other as indicated in Fig. 2, and at their upper end they are again united and welded atthe point 4, as described in detail in application SerialNo. 362,997. The upper end 5 of the member 2 is bent at right angles to the main portion thereof, and is fastened in an insulating block, preferably of Zirconia or other highly refractory insulating material. The opposite side frame member has its upper end 1 similarly bent and fastened in the opposite end of the block 6, as described said application. Extending between the lower ends of each of the side fraxne members I and 2 is a transverse rod 8, preferably welded at its ends to the members l and 2. Each of the members 8 is provided with an extension 9 which is fastened in the corresponding end of an insulating block I0, similar to the block 6. The lampfilament is in the form of a closely wound coil bent back upon itself to provide four parallel coil sections ll, [2, l3 and It. It will be understood, of course, that thefilament may be made in a greater or less number of coils, as desired.

The filament is preferably made from polished tungsten wire and in high powered lamps, for

example lamps of 30 kilowatt capacity, which are intended 'to be used on ordinary commercial supply mains, it is obvious that the filament must be of relatively large cross section. Such a fila ment therefore has considerable weight. In accordance with application Serial No. 362,977, re-

ferred to above, the upper end of the filament is supported by means of a hook l5 from the insulating block 6. Similarly the lower end of the filament is anchored by means of a similar pair of hooks [6, attached to the filament, and also tracting longitudinally without buckling or necessarily straining the supports 6 and I0.

For the purpose of conducting current to the filament the-free ends of the filament are united tothe side frame members by welding or in any other well known manner, as indicated by the numeral H. i

It has been found that in lamps of this type,

particularly in the higher powered lamps, for example 30 kilowatt lamps, when the filament is operated at its usual temperature it tends ,to sag intermediate its ends. This is particularly true when the lamp is used in a non-vertical position. In accordance with the present invention means are provided for preventing the sagging of the filament intermediate its ends by attaching to the side frame members I, a block or strip l8, preferably of refractory insulating material such as Zirconia, this strip having eyelets or hooks ill by means of which it may be attached to the frame members i. Fastened in the strip it are a series of short rods 2!], there being one rod for each of the parallel filament coils, that is the drawing shows four coiled sections and four rods 20. adapted to engage its corresponding coil section and may be fastened thereto in any convenient manner. For example the free ends of the rods 23 may be made in the form of hooks adapted to loosely engage a filament portion, or if desired the rods 26 can be rigidly fastened as by Welding to the coiled portions. By this arrangement therefore, the lamp may be operated in almost a horizontal position without the filament being subjected to sagging because of itsinherent weight and the high temperature at, which it is operated.

In Fig. 3 there is shown in partially sectional view, means for preventing the lamp as a unit from tilting. In high powered lamps of the concentrated filament type it is necessary not only to employ a very heavy filament, but also the lamp bulb itself is of considerable size and weight. Much difliculty has been encountered heretofore in providing a suitable socket for this type of lamp which is capable of holding the lamp rigidly notwithstanding that it is placed in a non-vertical position. As a matter of fact,

in very high powered lamps, due to the weight of the lamp and the filament after continued use of the lamp in a non-vertical position, the socket tends to become loose and the lamp consequently sags, and in many, cases, actually breaks the socket or the socket pin. In Fig. 3 the numeral 2| represents a well known form of housing may be moved within the housing as desired.

For this purpose the screw 21 may have an adjusting nut or handle 28 extending outside of the housing at a convenient point. The housing and reflector is usually mounted on a pivoted bracket 29 by means of which the light may be directed at any desired angle.

When the lamp is adjusted to a non-vertical position due to its weight, an excessive strain is placed upon the receptacle socket 24 and the pins 25, and the lamp tilts with respect to the reflector focus. In order to limit the tilting of the lamp, and at the same time to provide a support therefor, when the device is used in a nonvertical position, there is provided a ring member 30 which is attached by member 3! to a rod 32. The rod 32 passes through a sleeve 33 carried by an internally threaded block 34. The ring Each of the rods is.

39 may be adjusted vertically and held in adjusted position by means of a set screw 35. The internally threaded block St is supported on a screw member 36 which is supported for rotation in the wall of the reflector housing, and is provided with an adjusting nut or handle 31 on the exterior of said housing. Thus the handle 3'! may be turned to maintain the supporting ring 30 in proper position over the upper end of the lamp 26. Preferably said ring 36 is adjusted so that it does not actually touch the lamp, thus providing a very limited tilting movement for the lamp. However, if desired, the ring may be held in engagement with the lamp. By the screw arrangement 36, therefore, the position of the supporting ring 3!] may be adjusted to correspond with the position of the lamp as determined by the turning of the handle 28. By using the single ring 30 to support the upper end of the lamp there is substantially no interference with the light emitted from the reflector, and a positive support is provided for the body portion of the lamp where the weight is concentrated.

With this arrangement therefore the lamp and housing may be operated in almost a horizontal position without any danger of the lamp undergoing any excessive tilting and the placing of corresponding strains on the receptacle 24 or the contact pins 25. While the members 2'! and 3B are shown in the drawing as independently adjustable, it will be understood that if desired they may be operated from a single handle, so that the ring so may be advanced at the same rate and in unison with the socket support 23.

While one specific embodiment for the lamp support i shown in Fig. 3, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an illuminating device an evacuated envelope, a pair of metallic uprights within said envelope, and sealed in the base thereof, a pair of insulatingblocks extending between said uprights, a filament between said blocks and anchored by the same, and another insulating block extending between said uprights and intermeditending between said uprights and attached to the same, and a filament supported by said blocks.

3. In a high powered incandescent lamp the combination of an evacuated envelope, a pair of spaced metallic supports mounted within said envelope, a pair of insulating blocks extending between said metallic supports and attached to the same, a filament having its ends electrically connected to said supports, means for anchoring said filament to said pair of blocks, and additional means attached to said supports for anchoring said filament at a point intermediate said first mentioned blocks.

4. A high powered incandescent lamp comprising an evacuated envelope, a pair of spaced metallic supports sealed into the base of said en- .velope a pair of insulating strips extending between said supports, a coiled filament mounted between said strips and having its opposite ends extending betwen said supports, and means for anchoring said filament intermediate its ends to 5 prising an evacuated envelope, a pair of metallic uprights within said envelope, and sealed in the base thereof, an upper and a lower insulating strip extending between said uprights and attached to the same, a coiled filament having a plurality of parallel coiled sections, the coiled sections being anchored at opposite ends to said insulating strips, and means attached to the sections of said coils at .a point intermediate their ends to prevent said coils from sagging or lateral movement when the lamp is operated in a nonvertical position.

RAYMOND F. HOWE. 

